For those on Lake Murray, how do you go about White Perch fishing on the lake now into winter? I know this is a Striper forum but i can’t find much information online. Where do you go? How do you rig? What depth am I looking for? What Structure am I looking for? I’d like to take the kids and wife as this type of fishing seems to be their speed.
Spoonmaster, Fogman, or one of the other expert “perch jerkers” should be along shortly to offer some of their insight and wisdom.
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad (1/13/37 - 9/27/16 I love you Pops)
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish
Thank you.
I generally target them November- March with primarily 1/2 ounce Berry Spoons. It’s a fun way to finish up after pulling all day for stripers, and, on days when the water temp. gets down in the low 40’s, small spoons can be deadly for nice stripers. In fact, my second biggest striper of my life at 29.42 pounds came on a pearl 1/2 ounce Berry around Christmas of 2012.
As for perch right now, I would focus on points and humps in 10-20 fow with small minnows , tightlined on ultralights with a #4 Aberdeen hook and a #5 splitshot a foot or 2 above the hook. Fish the creeks. You can catch them on spoons right now, but live bait is more productive until the weather cools significantly.
I need to add as a shameless plug for my side business:smiley: that I will be offering $150 perch trips for up to 4 guests beginning in November.
James “Captain Fog” Lindler
Team Hardcore
Xpress HB-22
F150 4 Stroke Yammy Jammer
For guide service, search fogmanfisheries on Facebook.
I’d tend to agree with Fogman. The perch are much easier to catch during the cooler months. That being said, you can catch them all year long but it is more difficult because they tend to move around more chasing bait. Perch will eat almost anything smaller than they are. I’d like to add that almost any type of live worm (redworms, etc.) and cutbait will also catch them. They usually follow schools of shad and will sometimes even school on top. If you ever see them schooling a small crankbait can be very effective, or even a very small swimbait called a “Little Fishie”. If you can find bait pods near the bottom the perch are usually nearby. If they are thick and actively feeding a 1/2 ounce Berry spoon is hard to beat. You can also fish a double drop or more rig similar to ocean rigs and catch two or more at a time. One last suggestion, check out “The old fisherman” on utube. He has several good videos about perch and other fishing techniques.
Thank you for the tips and information Fogman and Spoonmaster. I’ll give it a try at some point this month. Fogman I have a counter offer, I’ll take you for free if you can put me on some perch (24ft Tidewater CC). But your offer of 150$ and 4 guest isn’t bad neither.we’ll be in touch.
Which part of the lake should I concentrate, Mid to Upper? I usually launch from the dam.
I played with the perch a lot on Greenwood this summer. It’s closer to my house than Murray and if I needed a quick trip I would head there and hit a few brush piles for crappie then jig for perch. Most mornings I could get 50 plus by myself but they were smaller than the Murray winter perch. Spoonmaster and Fogman took me under their wing last winter and taught me a lot on those Murray perch that also paid off this summer. I took my daughter a few times this summer and thought we would kill them on minnows and worms but they seemed to wise up to them very fast. Tiny 1/4 oz jigging spoons did so much better. This summer on Greenwood I found them in coves, not out on points and humps of the main lake like I expected. But it was wild, I found 4 coves that held them and held them every single time but never caught a single perch in any of the other coves I checked. Greenwood isn’t nearly as clear as Murray, I was catching them mostly in 16 to 22 feet on Greenwood. I’ve tried to find them on Murray some this summer after striper fishing but haven’t had any luck. Every time I think I have found a school it ends up being tiny stripers. Last year it was after the lake turned over before I could consistently get on the perch on Murray.
Nova, that sounds like a workable deal. I assume with a boat that big and nice that you have an I pilot trolling motor or something comparable and a good graph. Those things and the right tackle are all you need to fill the box. I catch and release 70-90% of the striper I catch in the winter, but the DNR wants the perch harvested. They are considered noxious and invasive.
Tiger, I think it’s more of a case of you taking us under your wing last winter. I waited 2 months for the new motor, and the trips with you, Floridaboy, and Spoon were what the doctor ordered. I guarantee I learned more from you than you did from me. You’re a wizard with those blade baits!
James “Captain Fog” Lindler
Team Hardcore
Xpress HB-22
F150 4 Stroke Yammy Jammer
For guide service, search fogmanfisheries on Facebook.
Have to give credit where credit is due. Tiger, Those “unnamed” blade baits did produce a lot of fish in the off colored water.
I’ve caught perch from 4’ to 85’ deep. It depends mostly on where their food is. The shallow perch I usually catch by accicent while bass fishing early in the morning or just before dark with crankbaits. I find the perch very deep usually when the water is at its’ coldest point. I remember one day last winter vividly. It was so cold Tiger, Fogman and I were catching perch while the line was freezing in our reels.
The thing I like best about the perch is that boat traffic doesn’t usually spook them.
Fogman…I run Lowrance electronics and a Motorguide W/GPS. So it sound like we have a deal this upcoming winter. I look forward to meeting up with you and Spoonmaster. I will messege ya’ll soon enough, thanks.
If the weather cools, the middle of next month should be good. Stay in touch. We always look forward to meeting and fishing with new folks. That’s how we forged a good friendship with 91Tiger for example-- even though I’m an 88Gamecock. 
James “Captain Fog” Lindler
Team Hardcore
Xpress HB-22
F150 4 Stroke Yammy Jammer
For guide service, search fogmanfisheries on Facebook.